Is this true about rottis

[gam]

I have heard a couple of things about Rotti's especially male ones.

Is it true that a 3 years of age, a male rotti's personality changes and they become more dominent or aggressive?

Is it true that if the roof of the dog's mouth is pink, it is not as even tempered as one without a pink roof?

These seem to far fetched for me to believe....

[Bruce Lanthier]

This IS to far-fetched to be believed. A dog is what it's genetics and upbringing make it.

I don't mean you, but urban legends like this are spread by ingnorant people that have a disease called False Authority Syndrome. They would have you believe they are an authority on something but, in reality, they have as much knowledge as a rock. When you talk to people like this run away as fast as you can ;) .

[angrygenius]

Absolutly Silly! The pink mouth/lips/nose crap has been around forever in one variation or another. I can remember my father talking about how you could tell one thing or another by the color of the dogs mouth when I was small. more than 35 years ago.

Can you tell how smart a kid is by the color of their eyes?

Ask your Vet, I'm sure that S/He will probably clarify things.;)

[LORHEL]

Oh boy, more folklore...the roof of the mouth has nothing to do with temperament..

What determines your dog's temperament are two things:

1. Genetics (parents, etc.)
2. Training, socialization, obedience....

The first you have no control over the second you do.

:)

[lblax]

Originally posted by gam
I have heard a couple of things about Rotti's especially male ones.

Is it true that a 3 years of age, a male rotti's personality changes and they become more dominent or aggressive?

Is it true that if the roof of the dog's mouth is pink, it is not as even tempered as one without a pink roof?

These seem to far fetched for me to believe....

the 3 yr old thing may have some basis male rotts are normally slow maturing depending on genetics some dont reach mental maturity until 4 yrs as they reach mental maturity depending on genetics training and socialization they may or may not chalange you and try to acheive a higher pack ranking

[gam]

Thanks for your feedback....I really found it hard to believe that the coloring of the roof of a dogs mouth had anything to do with its temperament.

I guess the 3 year old switch, depends on how much the dog is trained and socialized.

I have an opportunity to get a male rotti puppy. The puppy has been temperament tested and the breeder pick one out the she feels will work well in my house and my environment.

My other choice would be to pass on this puppy and get a dog from NERR in my area. Although I'm a little concerned about doing so, not knowing the parents of the dog, past history of the dog, and the truth about why the dog may have been surrendered.

[KattOK]

Just because a rottweiler is in 'rescue' doesn't mean he/she has something wrong with it. If you read the rottweiler rescue threads, alot of rottweilers are in rescue because the people who owned them never researched the breed and didn't realize their cute little puppy was going to be a big dog. Also, NERR tempermant tests their rottweilers.

Correct me if I'm wrong ... but is tempermant testing in pups that reliable? Doesn't it depend upon the training they get? I'm sure that rottweilers that are classified as 'mean' weren't that way as pups and only got to be that way because of the training/or lack of training they received.

My rescue dog is the joy of my life!!!

[gam]

Originally posted by KattOK
Just because a rottweiler is in 'rescue' doesn't mean he/she has something wrong with it. If you read the rottweiler rescue threads, alot of rottweilers are in rescue because the people who owned them never researched the breed and didn't realize their cute little puppy was going to be a big dog. Also, NERR tempermant tests their rottweilers.

Correct me if I'm wrong ... but is tempermant testing in pups that reliable? Doesn't it depend upon the training they get? I'm sure that rottweilers that are classified as 'mean' weren't that way as pups and only got to be that way because of the training/or lack of training they received.

My rescue dog is the joy of my life!!!

There is some reliablity to puppy temperment test. You can tell the dog's personality...shy, apprehensive, dominent, a lug, energetic, hyper, and some possesiveness...But training does play a huge part in how the dog turns out.

I'm sure the temperment testing done by rescue group is thorough...but with a dog that size and that powerful, you must be careful.

[mark_sherry]

The pink mouth thing harkens back to the days when psychologists believed that they could identify personality traits by a person's physical characteristics. The most obvious example is the one where they believed that people with large foreheads had dispositions towards being criminals. Thank God, this type of theory did not hold weight for long, and by the 30s and 40s, it was pretty much a forgotten thing. Oddly enough, the Nazis, as part of their cruel medical experiments, continued to do this kind of research before they were toppled. And in animals, physical characteristics have nothing to do with temperament unless its some kind of physical disformation that would cause them a lot of pain. A pink mouth will not cause pain, so it's not a sign of temperament. Just urban legend.

[KattOK]

Originally posted by gam


I'm sure the temperment testing done by rescue group is thorough...but with a dog that size and that powerful, you must be careful.

:D I think I'll sit back and wait for the NERR people that are on this forum to jump on this comment.

[damp]

Originally posted by KattOK


Doesn't it depend upon the training they get? I'm sure that rottweilers that are classified as 'mean' weren't that way as pups and only got to be that way because of the training/or lack of training they received.

Training/socializing doesn’t change a dog’s temperament, BUT hopefully it will change the dog’s behaviour in a positive way.

[gam]

I guess you can never be sure about with either a dog from a breader or one from a rescue. I guess either way, all you can do is ask alot of questions and do your best.

And for the record....I'm still not 100% sure I'm geting a rotti from a breeder....I'm still leaving my option open for a recue dog who is foster care

[KattOK]

Good luck with whatever route you go Gam. I just knew with my work schedule, a puppy would never be an option for me ... but then I wasn't looking for a rottweiler or dog for that matter when I acquired Holly.